History History Ancestry and Development of the Bluefaced Leicester Introduction Descendents of Robert Bakewell’s improved Dishley Leicester, the Bluefaced Leicester evolved near Hexham in Northumberland, England, in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Classified as a Longwool breed, it is one of three Leicester sheep breeds: the English Leicester Longwool, the Border Leicester, and the Bluefaced Leicester. It has the finest fleece of the three Leicester breeds, and the softest fleece of all Longwool breeds. It is also known by the name Hexham Leicester. The primitive English Leicester Longwool There had been a “Longwool” in England since the early Middle Ages, but it was in a primitive stage, with a fleece that could be compared to today’s Romney. It was a slow maturing, coarse sheep with a poor carcass for meat. Its wool was highly prized, but it was not a very efficient producer of lamb or mutton. The focus was on wool production over meat production at this time in history. As time went on, major changes in sheep breeding and keeping practices would shift the emphasis away from fleece quality towards meat production.

The historian M.L. Ryder suggests that at least in Britain, wool would never again receive the attention it did during the Middle Ages. The shift would be toward coarser fleece, longer fleece (length), and focus on sheep that would “fatten” more quickly. The Medieval Longwool would slowly evolve from its primitive stage toward the type of sheep we now associate with “true longwool type.” It became the “Old” English Leicester Longwool. Robert Bakewell and the “New Improved Leicester” Robert Bakewell (1725-1795) of Dishley Grange, Loughborough, Leicestershire, was a genius livestock breeder for his time. He is known for his work with horses, cattle, and especially sheep.

During the 1750s, he used Mugs (Teeswater), Old English Leicester Longwool (considered unimproved), and quite possibly Old Ryeland, and other local sheep types to create his “Improved Dishley Leicester.” This sheep was known by many other names including “Dishley Leicester,” “Improved Leicester” and “New Leicester.” The Dishley Leicester was a faster maturing animal with much better gains for meat, and a superior ability to create excellent crossbreds and improve sheep stock overall. Due to Bakewell’s idea to “let rams” (lease his rams out) to anyone who could pay, it wasn’t long before the Dishley Leicester was extremely popular throughout Britain and beyond. This gave Bakewell a unique opportunity to “breed test” many more rams than he could do at home himself. It enabled him to make improvements more quickly. With the help of friends, local farmers, his community connections and congregation, his livestock was spread far and wide. In this way, the Dishley Leicester was extensively used to improve many other sheep breeds, and to create new ones.

Robert Bakewell’s Dishley Leicester or “Improved Leicester” paved the way for the Leicester Longwool as a breed. It was from this point that the Old English Leicester Longwool was significantly improved, and developed further into today’s modern English Leicester Longwool. Visit these sites for more information on the English Leicester Longwool breed: The Culley brothers and the Border Leicester As the popularity of Robert Bakewell and his livestock grew, he gathered a following of students who wished to learn more about his breeding and farming methods. Among the most famous of his students were the brothers Matthew and George Culley. In the late 1760s they used Bakewell’s improved Dishley Leicester rams, Mugs (or Teeswater) ewes, and quite possibly the Cheviot to create a new breed, the Border Leicester. Matthew and George Culley were living and working in Fenton, Glendale (Northumberland) at this time, and they were frequent visitors to Dishley Grange. The Border Leicester breed was well established by 1850. A beautiful, hardy and well-tempered breed with a lustrous fleece, it still enjoys great popularity to this day.

Today, the North American, Australian and New Zealand Border Leicesters tend not to have the extreme upright “rabbit ears” of the British Border Leicesters. Visit these sites for more information on the Border Leicester breed: A word about the Wensleydale breed In 1839, “Bluecap” was born in East Appleton, North Yorkshire. He was the offspring of a Dishley Leicester ram and a Mugs ewe (Teeswater). He was a large and vigorous ram with dark blue (nearly black) skin and fine, white, long wool. He was well known and widely used, and was considered by many to be the best ram in Northern England at the time. Bluecap would found the Wensleydale breed, without further additions of Leicester blood. This was another breed that was primarily used as a crossing breed on Hill ewes, such as the Swaledale. The first generation cross of a Wensleydale ram and a Hill ewe is called a “Masham.” The Wensleydale breed is unique in the sheep world because it can trace its lineage to a single, well-documented foundation sire.

Visit these sites for more information on the Wensleydale breed: The birth of the Bluefaced Leicester breed Finally, in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, the Bluefaced Leicester breed came into being. It was primarily from the “Old” Border Leicester stock that the Bluefaced Leicester was created. Border Leicester individuals with darker skin pigment and finer fleece were selected, and these became the base for the new breed. Also, the white-fleeced, blue-skinned Wensleydale was likely used in the early development of the Bluefaced Leicester. The Bluefaced Leicester was originally created as a “crossing breed.” Its primary job was to produce high-quality crossbred ewes from the native draft or Hill breed ewes. It was discovered that a darker skinned ram, with a finer wool produced a better crossbred ewe from these Hill ewes. This first generation cross is traditionally called the “Mule.” Some of the most popular breeds used for the production of Mule ewes in the UK are the Scottish Blackface, Swaledale, Beulah, Welsh Mountain, Cheviot, and Clun Forest.

Visit these sites for more information on Scottish Blackface sheep: From its original home in the Northern Pennines, the Bluefaced Leicester spread throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, and into Northern Ireland. It eventually replaced the Teeswater breed as the “premier crossing sire.” At one time the Bluefaced Leicester was called “The Great Improver,” following in the footsteps of its ancestor, the Dishley Leicester. The BFL Association in the United Kingdom Dedicated breeders in the United Kingdom eventually came together and organized The Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association. They published their first national flock book in 1964, beginning with sheep registered in 1963. Today, the Bluefaced Leicester is fundamental in the 3-tier breeding system. It produces the majority of commercial ewes in the UK, and therefore maintains significant economic importance. Visit the UK Association at this link: Is a Bluefaced Leicester Sheep the Right Sheep Breed for You?

Other common names: Hexham Leicester Sheep The basics: According to the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association , "The Bluefaced Leicester evolved from a breeding scheme, to develop the Longwool sheep in the 1700's, by Robert Bakewell. Originally known as the Dishly Leicester, the breed was developed over the next 200 years and became commonly known as the Hexham Leicester due to its early concentration in the North of England." When crossed with any ewe, the Bluefaced Leicester produces the famous "Mule". The Bluefaced Leicester is now the most popular crossing sire in the United Kingdom. Some of the important mules include the North of England Mule , the Cheviot Mule , and the Scotch Mule . Appearance / health: Bluefaced Leicesters are recognizable for their Roman noses, which have a dark blue skin which can be seen through the white hair, hence the name. They are related to the original Leicester Longwool breed, and are commonly used as sires for mules. They have curly threadlike wool which makes it considerably lighter than others.

Some fleeces only weigh 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb). Fully grown Blueface rams can weigh up to 110 kg (240 lb) and ewes up to 89 kg (200 lb). At maturity and at the withers, rams are 90 cm (35 in) tall and ewes 85 cm (33 in) tall. One of the most common ailments among sheep is a viral skin disease called soremouth or “orf.” Ringworm or “club lamb fungus” is a rash also common among sheep. And much like “mad cow disease,” sheep can have a similar neurological ailment called “scrapie.” Sheep health issues should be addressed by a qualified veterinarian. Good health is promoted by sanitary habitat conditions and proper nutrition. Behavior / temperament: Sheep are herd animals that rely on staying together as a flock to protect themselves from predators. They are highly sensitive to predators because they are basically “prey animals.” They sense the presence of threat from several hundred feet away (they are able to twist and turn their ears to detect potential danger) and instinctively flee instead of fight or attack.

While fleeing, sheep run in a winding pattern to be able to see what is behind them. As domesticated animals, sheep make good pets because they are docile and easily connect with humans, especially lambs that are bottle-fed. Miniature breeds and sheep that have hair instead of fur make ideal pets. Raising pet sheep is a popular project in the 4-H youth organization. Housing / diet: Sheep are grazing animals and do well living their entire lives outdoors. They get sufficient exercise and fresh air out in the field. They do need shelter from bad storms and unusually hot days. Many sheep keepers install field structures to provide shade, for example, hutches, domes, carports, and makeshift sheds. A common shade structure is a hoop house, like an open hangar or a greenhouse, which has a metal arched frame covered with tarp or other heavy-duty fabric. Some sheep owners keep their flock in a barn or similar enclosure to protect them from predators. These enclosures must have very good ventilation because moisture and poor air conditions lead to the sheep’s poor health. For warmth and comfort, bedding material should be provided. The best bedding is absorbent, clean, and dry.

Some options are straw, wood shaving, sawdust, corncobs, dried corn stalks, peat, hemp, paper, and alfalfa hay. Preference is determined by cost, availability, convenience, and type of sheep. Wool sheep will not appreciate sawdust because it gets in their fleece. Paper is highly absorbent but difficult to manage in the field. Lambs start with their mother’s milk and a light diet of pasture grass at two weeks old. After weaning the lambs from ewe’s milk at six weeks old, they can start eating dry feed of grains (wheat, oats, barley, cottonseed, corn), soybean and peanut hulls, and hay. The main diet of sheep is fresh grass and other forage and pasture vegetation. The pasture must be fertile and large enough to support the grazing of sheep for about seven hours a day (morning and afternoon). Fresh water must be constantly available, especially during the warm months and if the diet is mostly dry hay. Supplements are recommended, and must be given in the middle of the day to balance the sheep’s food intake.

Ontario Sheep Breeds Canadian Sheep Breeds Berrichon Du Cher The Berrichon du Cher was established in the Berry region of France. The original breed was crossed with a Merino in the mid-1780's. Further improvements were made in the 1800's with the introduction of the Dishely Leicester. Bluefaced Leicester The Bluefaced Leicester is a longwool breed of sheep which originate from Northumberland and were made known at the beginning of the 20th century.[1] In the 1970s, the Bluefaced Leicester was exported to Canada. Exportation of frozen semen from the UK is now used to expand the genetic diversity in Canada and the United States. Border Cheviot The Border Cheviot originated as a mountain breed, native to the Cheviot Hills between Scotland and England, where the climate is harsh and the conditions are rugged. Cheviots are extremely hardy and can withstand harsh winters and graze well over hilly pastures. They were bred to look after themselves. Border Leicester The Border Leicester is a dual purpose breed of sheep, producing both meat and wool. Border Leicester wool falls in long, shining locks that are popular with hand spinners.

The Border Leicester also has a longer loin and leaner meat than many sheep of its size. British Milk Sheep The British Milk Sheep can now be found in the UK and Canada. The exact composition of this breed is debated. However, it is agreed that the breeds East Friesian, Bluefaced Leicester, Polled Dorset and Lleyn are at least a part of this breed. The breed was released in 1980. As the name of the breed suggests, it is a prolific milk producer Canadian Arcott The Canadian Arcott is one of the three Arcott breeds developed at the federal government research station in Ottawa between 1970 and 1985 and released to Canadian farms in the late 1980's. Canadian Arcotts were the result of a crossbreeding program that included Ile de France and Suffolk, producing a new breed with strong meat characteristics. Charollais The Charollais is a breed of domestic sheep originating in France. It has been exported internationally, and is commonly used in the U.K.

as a sire to produce market lambs with purebred ewes and mules Clun forest The Clun Forest is a breed of domestic sheep originating from the area surrounding the Clun Forest in Shropshire. Similar to many of the British breeds of upland sheep, Clun Forest are hardy, adaptable, good foragers, and are long lived. The breed has a short to medium-length wool and dark brown faces. They are a multi-purpose animal, kept for meat, wool, and milk. Columbia The Columbia is one of the first breeds of sheep developed in the United States and is large breed. The product of USDA and university research, it was intended to be an improved breed specially built for the Western ranges of the country (where the majority of sheep raising takes place). Beginning in 1912 in Laramie, Wyoming, Lincoln rams were crossed with Rambouillet ewes. Corriedale Corriedale sheep are a dual purpose breed, meaning they are used both in the production of wool and meat. The Corriedale is the oldest of all the crossbred breeds, a Merino-Lincoln cross developed almost simultaneously in Australia and New Zealand and first brought to the United States in 1914.

Cotswold Cotswold sheep are a breed of domestic sheep originating in the Cotswold hills of the southern midlands of England. It is a dual-use breed providing both meat and wool. As of 2009, this long-wooled breed is relatively rare, and is categorized as "minority" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the U.K. Dorset The Dorset or Dorset Horned breed of sheep is known mostly for its prolific lambing. It has been known to produce two lambing seasons per year: bred in May for lambs finished by the holidays, and bred again immediately after the first lambing to produce again in March or April. This type of management, the ewes sold with the lambs, sometimes produces as many as four or five lambs a year. East Friesian The East Friesian is a breed of dairy sheep originating from East Frisia in northern Germany. It is either the best or one of the best sheep breeds in terms of milk yield per ewe. There are reports of individual animals with milk yield reaching 900 litres. In order to provide a high milk-yield, the ewe must receive a high-quality diet.

Finnsheep The Finnish Landrace or Finnsheep is a breed of domestic sheep which has a high incidence of multiple births - it is common for a ewe to have three, four, or even five lambs at once. In North America there have been several instances of births of seven lambs, and the record in Finland is nine live lambs. The lambs are often small, but are vigorous at birth and grow well. Hampshire The Hampshire or Hampshire Down is a breed of sheep which originated around 1829 from a cross of Southdowns with the Old Hampshire breed, the Wiltshire Horn, and the Berkshire Nott, all horned, white-faced sheep - these were native to the open, untilled, hilly stretch of land known as the Hampshire Downs. Horned Dorset The exact history of the Horned Dorset is not real clear. History tells that the Spanish wished to conquer England, perhaps at this time Merinos were introduced to Southwest England. Crossing with the Horned Sheep of Wales may have resulted in the start of the Horned Dorset, a desirable all-purpose sheep. Icelandic The Icelandic sheep is a breed of domestic sheep.

The Icelandic breed is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep, which exhibit a fluke-shaped, naturally short tail. The Icelandic is a mid-sized breed, generally short legged and stocky, with face and legs free of wool. The fleece of the Icelandic sheep is dual-coated and comes in white as well as a variety of other colors, including a range of browns, grays, and blacks. Ile de France The Ile-de-France is a breed of sheep native to the French region of Ile-de-France near Paris. It was first developed at a French veterinary college in the 1830s through crosses of Dishley Leicester and Rambouillet, and was originally known as the Dishley Merino. In 1933 it was rigorously tested early on its breeding for meat characteristics and maternal qualities. Jacob The Jacob sheep is a rare breed of small, piebald (colored with white spots), polycerate (multi-horned) sheep. Jacobs may have from two to six horns, but most commonly have four. Jacobs are usually raised for their wool, meat, and hides.

They are also kept as pets and ornamental animals, and have been used as guard animals to protect farm property from theft or vandalism and defend other livestock against predators. Karakul Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, Karakul sheep are renowned for their ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. They can survive because of a special quality they have, storing fat in their tails. Karakul are also raised in large numbers in Namibia, having first been brought there by German colonists in the early 20th century. Lincoln The Lincoln, sometimes called the Lincoln Longwool, is a breed of sheep from England. The Lincoln is the largest British sheep, developed specifically to produce the heaviest, longest and most lustrous fleece of any breed in the world. Great numbers were exported to many countries to improve the size and wool quality of their native breeds. North Country Cheviot The North Country Cheviot is a big, long rugged sheep which combines thriftiness and healthiness with prolificacy and strong maternal qualities. The breed is particularly suited to grassy hills and uplands.

Outaouais Arcott The Outaouais Arcott was one of three breeds developed at the Agriculture Canada research station near Ottawa. The Outaouais was produced by crossing a number of breeds but predominantly the Suffolk, Finnish Landrace, and Shropshire. Oxford Oxford sheep (also known as Oxford Down) is an English breed developed in the 1830s by crossing the Cotswold with a forerunner of the Hampshire, and using the resulting cross-breeds to form the basis of the present-day breed. This breed is primarily raised for meat. The fleece of the Oxford is short, relatively large-bodied, hornless, has a brown face and legs covered in white wool. Polpay The Polypay sheep breed is a white, medium sized sheep which was developed in the 1960s at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho. In general, Polypay sheep are noted for being a highly prolific, dual-purpose (meat and wool) breed. Rambouillet The Rambouillet is also known as the Rambouillet Merino or the French Merino.

The development of the Rambouillet breed started in 1786 when Louis XVI purchased over three hundred Spanish Merinos from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain. The flock was subsequently developed on an experimental royal farm, the Bergerie royale (now Bergerie nationale). Rideau Arcott One of only a few livestock breeds developed in Canada, the Rideau is a synthesis of many different breeds, but it primarily the product of Finnsheep, Suffolk, East Friesian, Shropshire, and Dorset Horn. The research flock was closed in 1974, and the breed was distributed to shepherds beginning in 1988 The Rideau Arcott today is a maternal breed, with twins and triplets the norm. Romanov Romanov is a breed of domestic sheep originating in Russia. These domestic sheep got the name Romanov from the town of the same name. In the 18th century, these sheep first got noticed. Soon after they were noticed, they were imported into Germany and then into France. In the year of 1980, they were brought by the Canadian government and were quarantined for 5 years.

Romney The Romney, formerly called the Romney Marsh sheep but generally referred-to by the local farmers as the Kent, is a breed of sheep originating in England. The Romney is a "long-wool" breed recognized in England by 1800. Exported to other continents, the Romney is an economically important sheep breed, especially in the sheep-meat and wool export trades of New Zealand. Rouge de L'ouest The Rouge de l'Ouest is breed of domestic sheep originating in France. The breed's name, which literally translates from French as "Red of the West", refers to its region of origin and its unique pinkish face and legs. It was developed in the Maine et Loire department of France, through crossing local landrace sheep with Wensleydales and Bluefaced Leicesters. Scottish BlackFace The Scottish Blackface is the most common breed of domestic sheep in the United Kingdom. This tough and adaptable breed is often found in the more exposed locations, such as the Scottish Highlands or roaming on the moors of Dartmoor. It is also known as Blackfaced Highland, Kerry, Linton, Scottish Mountain, Scottish Highland, Scotch Blackface and Scotch Horn.

Shetland The Shetland sheep is a small, fine-woolled breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, but now also kept in many other parts of the world. It is one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. Shetlands are classed as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. This breed is kept for its very fine wool, for meat, and for conservation grazing. shropshire The Shropshire breed of domestic sheep originated from the hills of Shropshire, and North Staffordshire, England, during the 1840s. The breeders in the area used the local horned black-faced sheep and crossed them with a few breeds of white-faced sheep. This produced a medium-sized polled (hornless) sheep that produced good wool and meat. In 1855 the first Shropshires were imported into the USA. South African Meat Merino Derived from Deutsche Fleisch Merino animals imported into South Africa from Europe in 1932, to improve the quality of wool and meat from sheep in South Africa.

The Deutsche Fleisch Merino is a common meat sheep in Germany, Austria, and Poland. Southdown The Southdown is a small, dual purpose British sheep but is raised primarily for meat. The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex about 200 years ago. His work was continued by Jonas Webb ofBabraham in Cambridgeshire who developed the larger animal that we see today. It was exported to New Zealand and was used in the breeding of the Canterbury Lamb. Suffolk The Suffolk is renown as a terminal sire breed and remains No 1 for growth rate as proven by numerous independent scientific studies. This ability to grow and finish quickly is essential in a falling market and Suffolk lambs can also be taken to heavier carcase weights, if required. Targhee The Targhee is a breed of domestic sheep developed in early 20th century by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. They are hardy, and are especially suited to the ranges of the West where they were developed. Targhee are especially popular in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, where they are favored by western ranchers. This breed is raised primarily for wool.

Texel The Texel sheep originates from the island of Texel, one of the north-western islands off Holland where the ancient native sheep was known as Pielsteert (Pin-tail, because of its thin short tail). In an attempt to improve prolificacy, growth rate and size several English were introduced at the end of the nineteenth century. Rigorous selection resulted in the development of a large, prolific and well muscled sheep. The Breed History | Blue Texel Sheep Society will make more MONEY for you" Blue Texel Sheep Society Contact Us Origins of the Breed Blue Texels were first recognised and recorded in Holland in the early 1970s, with blue sheep accidentally born to white Texel parents. Deliberate matings for the blue factor followed, and more blue animals were found in white Texel flocks. By 1983, there were 11 flocks with 213 blue sheep. With the formation of a breed society for these sheep in Holland (Stamboek Blauwe Texelaar), numbers have now risen to 6,500 sheep in 250 flocks. This society continues to register Blue Texels born to white Texel parents.

Blue Texel flocks in Britain have now been formed both by importation and from blue sheep born in British white pedigree Texel flocks. There are now 50 registered flocks in all parts of the United Kingdom. What are Blue Texels? Blue Texels are similar to white Texels, but express the "blue" (Abl ) coat pattern. This is a recessive gene in the Texel breed, and Blue Texels breed true for it. Blue sheep are found in all Texel types from the smaller Dutch Texels to the larger Texels common in Britain. There is evidence of higher fertility in Blue Texels. The blue pattern can vary from very pale animals to quite dark, but no part of the fleece is wholly black or white. The black head, ears and legs have symmetrical white markings. The flank wool is lighter than the shoulders and belly, sometimes a pale silvery blue. If two white Texels carry the blue gene, there is a 25% chance of a blue lamb from a mating. Matings between blue sheep will always produce blue lambs. Uses of the Breed Blue Texel rams are competitive as commercial terminal sires for producng prime crossbred lambs for the trade.

As the colour pattern is recessive, most crossbred lambs will be white. They also have a niche role as a terminal sire for coloured or rare breeds, to produce meaty coloured crossbred lambs, with possible added value from fleece, yarn, felt and furskins. For the small pedigree flock owner, Blue Texels are attractive and friendly occupants of home paddocks, parkland and orchards. The ewes are docile, thrifty and good mothers. They tend to have narrower heads than the more extreme Texel types, and therefore avoid the lambing problems sometimes found with the white breed. Some Questions & Answers Q. What are Blue Texels crossed with? A. Our pedigree Blue Texels are 100% pure. Q. Where does the colour pattern come from? A. Like all other white breeds, modern Texels contain genetic material from the earliest sheep, including the recessive colour patterns. Blue Texels have been bred to select this colour. Other factors, like higher fertility, may be linked to the colour gene. Q. If I put a Blue Texel ram on my commercial flock, what colour will the lambs be? A. White, mainly.

There may be a few coloured lambs if you have colour carriers in your flock. ​Q. Why are they called "Blue"? Is this the same as Bluefaced Leicester? A. No. "Blue" is the geneticists name for the colour pattern, and also describes the colour of the flank wool. White "bluefaced" sheep just have dark skin on their faces. Q. Could I register a Blue lamb from white parents? A. From 1st January 2016 all lambs must be bred from Blue parents to be eligible for registration. Q. I've got some black Texels at home. They were originally crossed with Black Welsh. Are these the same as Blue Texels? A. No. The dominant black gene from the Black Welsh or Jacobs is totally different. These crosses do not breed true for colour, while the recessive blue gene always does. Q. How about showing Blue Texels? A. Blue Texels are doing well in the show ring. Their distinctive appearance stands out and takes the judge's eye. They have taken Championships at the Royal, Royal Welsh and Three Counties Shows, as well as many smaller Shows.

Blue Texel Sheep - The terminal sire with a difference Sign up for our newsletter Follow us BREED INTRODUCTION BREED INTRODUCTION West Cocklaw, Humshaugh, Hexham, UK History of the Bluefaced Leicester Bluefaced Leicester sheep evolved near Hexham in Northumberland at the beginning of the 1900ï¿½s. They are descendants of Robert Bakewellsï¿½ improved Dishley Leicester. They were bred to produce top quality crossbred ewes from the ï¿½nativeï¿½ Blackface and Swaledale draft ewes. It was found that a darker coloured ram, with a finer skin ï¿½fleeceï¿½ produced a better cross ewe from the blackfaced hill ewes, a cross traditionally called the ï¿½Muleï¿½. From its original home in the Northern Pennineï¿½s, the Bluefaced Leicester has spread through the upland areas of England, Scotland, Wales, and into Northern Ireland. In the 1970ï¿½s there were two importations into Canada thanks to the joint efforts of Dr & Mrs. Nettleton, and Andy Richardson.

The Bluefaced Leicester Breeders Association (BFLBA) is a dedicated group of American breeders, intent on the preservation and expansion of this magnificent breed since its introduction to the USA. The original rescue and preservation work began in 1995, with a handful of breeders and the purchase and division of two North American flocks, one from Nova Scotia, the other from Virginia. Then came the task of tracing lineage and crossing the two flocks until new genetics could be obtained and imported. From a handful of small flocks in the late 1990ï¿½s collectively numbering less than 60 Bluefaced Leicesters, there are now over 305 owners on record, and the breed will mark its two thousandth registration in 2008. In 1997, the first Bluefaced Leicester ewes underwent Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination at Michigan State University using frozen semen from two of the original three UK collected sires. The following year a ï¿½natural coloredï¿½ UK Bluefaced Leicester ram was collected and added to the imported gene pool.

There have been several ï¿½breederï¿½ visits to the UK for the purpose of bloodline selection with subsequent semen collections and imports. Thus far twelve UK sires have been imported to expand the genetic base of the Bluefaced Leicester in the USA, with several more awaiting the final passage of new import regulations. These continual imports will insure a diverse semen supply for the future generations of Bluefaced Leicesters. With the reopening of the USA-Canadian border to live sheep in 2007 the task of restocking Canada with the Bluefaced Leicester has begun. Multiple exports of foundation breeding groups to several Canadian providences in 2007 and 2008 will firmly establish the Bluefaced Leicesterï¿½s presence across North America. General Appearance The Bluefaced Leicester should have a broad muzzle, good mouth, a roman nose, bright alert eyes, and long erect ears. The color of the head skin should be dark blue showing through white hair, with no wool on the head, or neck. Both sexes are polled.

There should be a good length of neck laid into broad shoulders, a good ï¿½spring of ribï¿½, a long strong back, with no weakness behind the shoulder. The hind-quarters should be broad and deep, the legs clean, well positioned and strong boned. The rams have a proud, stately carriage and the ewes exhibit a feminine look. The wool should be tightly purled, fine, semi-lusterous, and opening cleanly to the skin. Color: The Bluefaced Leicester, though predominately a white wool breed, does carry a recessive black gene and natural colored lambs do appear. On a white animal, small dark spots are permissible on the face, ears, neck and legs. Lips and nostrils are preferably black, mottled grey is acceptable. Wool: The Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a Longwool breed with a staple length of 3- 6ï¿½, a fleece weight of 3 to 6 lbs., and a fiber diameter of 56s ï¿½ 60s count, or 24-28 microns, creating high quality luster yarns with beautiful drape.

Size: The adult Bluefaced Leicester has one of the largest body weights of the British breeds, some rams having been weighed at over 3 cwt. In spite of this size, when mated to the smaller hill type ewe, the ewe is able to carry and lamb its crossbred progeny without the slightest difficulty. A ram at maturity should weigh 250-300 lbs. They have an excellent disposition and are quite manageable despite their size. Ewes will typically weigh 170-220 lbs. at maturity. Lambing Percentage: The Bluefaced Leicester is one of the most prolific of all the native British breeds of sheep. It is quite common for registered flocks to achieve a lamb crop in excess of 250 percent. The ewe has the milking ability to match these multiple births. Health:In the United Kingdom there has never been a recorded case of scrapie in a purebred Bluefaced Leicester.

Because of their genetic resistance to scrapie, many Blackfaced Hill sheep are being crossbred with the Bluefaced Leicester to improve the scrapie resistance of the ï¿½Muleï¿½ population, which is the backbone of the UK sheep industry. Interest: The increasing popularity and demand for the Bluefaced Leicester is a reflection of its success as a purebred sire, as a fleece flock sire for the hand spinner, as well as a maternal crossing sire for the production of crossbred ï¿½Mulesï¿½. The Bluefaced Leicester is proving itself to be a truly multi-purpose breed. Breed Standard Breed Standard Breed Standard Describing Traditional White, and Natural Colored Bluefaced Leicesters The Bluefaced Leicester is one of the three Leicester breeds of sheep [English Leicester Longwool, Border Leicester, and Bluefaced Leicester]. The Old English Leicester, Teeswater, Dishley Leicester (or Bakewell’s “Improved Leicester”), Border Leicester, and Wensleydale all contributed to the eventual development of the Bluefaced Leicester. Therefore, the Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a longwool breed.

Though its fleece is typically at the finer end of the longwool range, it exhibits characteristics unique to longwools, most notably staple length and structure. HEAD The Bluefaced Leicester should have a broad muzzle, a good mouth (no overshot or undershot mouth), a Roman nose, bright alert eyes, and long, erect ears with a V-shaped earset. The cheeks should be deep with a good width under the jaw, and across the throat area. Eye color will vary from pale gold to brown, depending on the color of the animal. On a white animal, the color of the head skin should be dark blue showing through white hair. There should be no wool on the face, head or cheeks. Wool may grow right up to the throat area, especially in winter. Both sexes are polled. BODY, HINDQUARTERS AND LEGS There should be a good length of neck laid into broad shoulders. The neck set is high, with the base of the neck coming out of the shoulder assembly at a more vertical angle.

There should be a good “spring of rib” in the barrel with no tendency towards “slab-sidedness.” The chest should be deep and wide, and there should be no tendency towards a “pinched girth” (or extremely narrow heart girth area). The Bluefaced Leicester is known for its long, strong back; it should be level from front to back, with no significant dips (or a “rough join”) either in front of the shoulder, just behind the shoulder, or at the join between the back and pelvic girdle (in the loin, or sacro-lumbar region). The shoulders should be broad and well-rounded, with the shoulder blades meeting very close together at the withers. Despite the length of the back, there should be no tendency for the back to sag (or “sway”) across its length. The topline should flow smoothly from the neck to the dock. The Bluefaced Leicester is known for its very long loin, and the general appearance is that of a long body shape. The hips should be level and wide, with broad and deep thighs. Overall, the hindquarters should be deep with good angles from the hip to the hock.

Extremely shallow/narrow hindquarters, and extremely straight rear leg angles (or “post legs”) should be avoided. The legs should be clean, straight, well-positioned, and have good bone; they should be neither too fine, nor too heavy. Good leg placement and angles also promote smooth and correct movement. Leg joints should appear smooth, with no tendency towards coarseness (or “knobby” joints). There should be no evidence of low (“soft” or sagging) pasterns, an extremely steep and upright hoof structure (“club” or “goat foot”), or splayed feet (splayed toes). There should also be no evidence of leg faults (“over at the knee,” “calf knee,” “knock knees,” “pigeon toed,” “toed out,” “cow hocked,” etc.). The belly and the legs below the forearm and the hock should be free of wool. Hooves should be black or dark. Rams: Testicles should be free of wool, well-developed, and hang down a distance from the body. Ewes: Udders should be free of wool, and show evidence of two good teats.

In addition, if there is udder development, it should be “tight” (meaning not grossly large or pendulous; well-attached at the udder floor and carried closer to the body), well-formed, and balanced. Again, the mature Bluefaced Leicester will carry no wool on its face, head, cheeks, belly, legs, scrotal/vaginal, and udder areas. OVERALL APPEARANCE OR DEMEANOR The overall appearance is of an alert animal with a bold carriage, purposeful stride, and commanding presence. Rams have a proud bearing and masculine look, and the ewes exhibit a feminine look. The general appearance should be one of fitness and vigor, as this is a very athletic breed of sheep. Breed type plays an important role in the Standard, judging, and scoring. COLOR All purebred Bluefaced Leicester sheep are permitted in the Registry regardless of color: white, or black patterned; and at some point, black solid, or brown (Moorit).

(Please refer to the Rules for Registration, Section 4.) Natural Colored: Although the Bluefaced Leicester is predominately a white wool breed, it does carry a recessive black gene and natural colored lambs do appear. Natural colored Bluefaced Leicesters can range from almost solid, to dark animals with patterning (lighter areas of hair and/or wool) on the face, legs, saddle, and other areas. There should be no distinct (sharply defined) white spots in the wool, on the body. White: The ideal white Bluefaced Leicester has dark blue pigmented skin and white wool. On individuals with dark blue skin, the blue coloration shows through white hair on the head, and the insides of the ears are solidly dark. The pigment is also noticeable on the body skin itself (underneath the wool), on the upper parts of the legs, neck skin, and belly. Small black spots are permissible on the face, ears, neck, and legs. Lips and nostrils are preferably black, but mottled grey is acceptable. There should be no distinct black, dark red, or dark brown spots in the wool, on the body.

There should be no rust-colored hairs, or dark red or dark brown spots/speckles anywhere on the legs or head. WOOL On both white and natural colored Bluefaced Leicesters, the wool should be tightly purled, fine, dense, semi-lustrous, and when parted, it should open cleanly to the skin. There should be an even, consistent fleece coverage on the body, and the fleece should be free of hair and kemp. There should be no tendency for the main body of fleece to “peel” (the fleece breaking and sloughing off). The Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a longwool breed with a staple length of 3-6 inches, a fleece weight of 2½-4½ lbs., and a fiber diameter of 56s–60s count, or 24-28 microns. It creates high-quality semi-lustre yarns with soft hand, beautiful drape, and excellent dyeing properties. SIZE, STATURE The adult Bluefaced Leicester has one of the largest body weights of the British breeds.

In spite of this size, when mated to the smaller Hill-type ewe, the ewe is able to carry and lamb its crossbred progeny without the slightest difficulty. A ram at maturity should weigh 200-250 lbs., with some individuals nearing 300 lbs. Rams have an excellent disposition and are quite manageable despite their size. Ewes will usually weigh 150-175 lbs. at maturity, with some individuals nearing 200 lbs. This breed should have good bone and muscling to support their athletic build, shape, and style. The breed should not be too slender or “light” in build or character, nor over-muscled and too heavy. LAMBING PERCENTAGE The Bluefaced Leicester is the most prolific of all the native British breeds. It is common for registered flocks to achieve lamb crops of 200% to 250%. The ewe has the milking ability to support these multiple births. They typically give birth and nurse their lambs on well-structured udders with great success. FINAL NOTES Although this breed originally descended from very similar stock, today’s Bluefaced Leicester should not look like a Border Leicester.

There are many unique and distinctive characteristics that separate this breed from the Border Leicester breed. Also, it is important to note that the breed standard here is referring to the “Traditional” or “Classic” Bluefaced Leicester (in white), not the “Crossing Type” Bluefaced Leicester. The “Crossing Type” BFL took a foothold in the UK during the late 1990s through the turn of the new century, and it currently has a strong following among many breeders. Some UK breeders have both types on their farms and keep the flocks separate. The “Crossing Type” is typically recognized by its bold patterns of spots and speckles in dark brown, dark rust brown, and/or dark grey on the head and legs (it is also a white wooled sheep). The “Crossing Type” also appears to have a slightly different shaped head and ear placement than the “Traditional.” Some of these sheep appear somewhat more domed at the top of the head (poll), and the ears appear to originate a little lower on the head. Share and Enjoy: Bluefaced Leicester sheep | PetMapz Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!

Bluefaced Leicester sheep Origin Also Known By: Hexham Leicester, Bluefaced Maine, Blue-headed Maine. The Bluefaced Leicester is a longwool breed of sheep which originates near Hexham in the county of Northumberland and became known at the beginning of the 20th century. They are descendants of Robert Bakewell’s improved Dishley Leicester. The breed originated from Border Leicester individuals selected for the blue face (white hairs on black skin) and finer fleeces. It was developed as a sire of high quality crossbred ewes. In the 1970s, the Bluefaced Leicester was exported to Canada. Exported frozen semen from the United Kingdom is now used to expand the genetic diversity in Canada and the United States. This breed is raised primarily for meat, but their fleece is becoming increasingly popular for handspinning. Bluefaced Leicester sheep may also have brown on their face. The sell record has been set by a brown ram lamb selling for 23,000 guineas. Purpose Meat Characteristics They have curly threadlike wool which makes it considerably lighter than others. Some fleeces only weigh 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb).

These particular kind of sheep have no wool on the head or neck, although the pattern and shape of the wool is most like the Wensleydale. Bluefaced Leicesters are recognisable through their Roman noses, which have a dark blue skin which can be seen through the white hair, hence the name. They are tangentially related to the original Leicester Longwool breed, and commonly used as sires for mules. Fully grown Blueface rams can weigh up to 110 kg (240 lb) and ewes up to 89 kg (196 lb). At maturity and at the withers, rams are 90 cm (35 in) tall and ewes 85 cm (33 in) tall. Who We Are Petmapz is your one stop website to find all local pet services for all domesticated species in your area (Veterinarians, Groomers, Retail, Dog Parks, Kennels and MUCH more).

Please bear with us as we are currently in the process of building the database for you to access, if you can't find what you're looking for, please feel free to add it; by clicking the "Add listing" button on the top of the page. Can't find what you're looking for? Leave Feedback Subscribe To Our List We hate spam just as much as you do. We will never sell, share or disclose your email to any 3rd party. Our email alerts will notify you when a new PetMapz listing is published! Legal Information Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) | The Spinning Loft S-Z Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) The Bluefaced Leicester evolved near Hexham in the county of Northumberland, England during the early 1900’s. They are descendants of Robert Bakewell’s improved Dishley Leicester. The breed originated from Border Leicester individuals selected for the blue face (white hairs on black skin) and finer fleeces. It was was developed as a sire of high quality cr0ssbred ewes. The crossbred progeny of the Bluefaced Leicester is the Mule, the ewe famous throughout the U.K. as the best commercial breeding ewe on the market.

Bluefaced Leicesters were imported to Canada in the 1970’s where they eventually made their way to the United States. Frozen semen from the United Kingdom is being used to expand the genetic base of the breed in the U.S. and Canada. Breed categories: long wool, dual-purpose Distribution: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, North America The Bluefaced Leicester evolved from a breeding scheme, to develop the Longwool sheep in the 1700’s, by Robert Bakewell. Originally known as the Dishly Leicester. The breed was developed over the next 200 years and became commonly known as the Hexham Leicester due to it’s early concentration in the North of England. Today it is known as the Bluefaced Leicester and is now the most popular crossing sire throughout the British isles. In 1963 the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association was formed to encourage the breeding and maintain the purity of the Bluefaced Leicester sheep. A flock book was also established. The Bluefaced Leicester is regularly crossed with many of the native British breeds, particularly hill breeds such as Swaledale, Blackface, Welsh Mountain and Cheviot, to produce the Mule ewe.

The term Mule sheep means any crossbred sired by a Bluefaced Leicester. The ‘Mule ewe’ now makes up almost half of the UK’s crossbred ewe population. General Appearance The Bluefaced Leicester should have a broad muzzle, good mouth, a roman nose, bright alert eyes, and long erect ears. The color of the head skin should be dark blue showing through white hair, although a little brown is acceptable, with no wool on the head, or neck. Both sexes are polled. There should be a good length of neck laid into broad shoulders, a good ‘spring of rib’, a long strong back, with no weakness behind the shoulder. The hind-quarters should be broad and deep, the legs clean, well positioned and strong boned. The rams have a proud, stately carriage and the ewes exhibit a feminine look. The wool should be tightly purled, fine, semi-lustrous, and opening cleanly to the skin. Color: The Bluefaced Leicester, though predominately a white wool breed, does carry a recessive black gene and natural colored lambs do appear. On a white animal, small dark spots are permissible on the face, ears, neck and legs.

Lips and nostrils are preferably black, mottled grey is acceptable. Wool: The Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a Longwool breed with a staple length of 3- 6”, a fleece weight of 3 to 6 lbs., and a fiber diameter of 56s – 60s count, or 24-28 microns, creating high quality luster yarns with beautiful drape. Size: The adult Bluefaced Leicester has one of the largest body weights of the British breeds, some rams having been weighed at over 3 cwt. In spite of this size, when mated to the smaller hill type ewe, the ewe is able to carry and lamb its crossbred progeny without the slightest difficulty. A ram at maturity should weigh 250-300 lbs. They have an excellent disposition and are quite manageable despite their size. Ewes will typically weigh 170-220 lbs. at maturity. Lambing Percentage: The Bluefaced Leicester is one of the most prolific of all the native British breeds of sheep. It is quite common for registered flocks to achieve a lamb crop in excess of 250 percent.

The ewe has the milking ability to match these multiple births. Health: In the United Kingdom there has never been a recorded case of scrapie in a purebred Bluefaced Leicester. Because of their genetic resistance to scrapie, many Blackfaced Hill sheep are being crossbred with the Bluefaced Leicester to improve the scrapie resistance of the ‘Mule’ population, which is the backbone of the UK sheep industry. Interest: The increasing popularity and demand for the Bluefaced Leicester is a reflection of its success as a purebred sire, as a fleece flock sire for the hand spinner, as well as a maternal crossing sire for the production of crossbred ‘Mules’. The Bluefaced Leicester is proving itself to be a truly multi-purpose breed. Shop For:

Question: What breed of animal is a "Bluefaced Leicester"?
Answer: A SHEEP